Global Collaboration in Technology Policy

Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Executive Education returned to Rwanda in March to deliver two courses in technology policy. 

The team welcomed 30 participants from 12 different countries: Costa Rica, Egypt, Estwatini, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Mongolia, Peru, Rwanda, The Bahamas and The Gambia, to Kigali for a week of lectures from experts, connecting across-cultures, sharing expertise and perspectives. 

The week started with Identity Authority Ecosystems and Digital Transformations led by Pam Dixon, Founder and Executive Director of the World Privacy Forum. The course focused on the major identity (ID) ecosystems in use today and the positives and drawbacks of the ID platforms in use today. We were joined by Josephine Mukesha, Director General of the National Identification Agency in Rwanda and CMU-Africa alumni, who described Rwanda’s considerable experience with identify authorities, and Assane Gueye, CMU Professor and Co-Director of Cylab-Africa, who discussed underlying technologies, and the work of CMU-Africa and the Upanzi Network. 

During the week, we visited CMU-Africa where participants learned about initiatives being led at CMU-Africa including the Digital Experience Center and the Upanzi Network, an Africa-based network of technology research labs that is working towards a secure and resilient digital transformation of the continent. 

“The visit to CMU- Africa was enlightening  - the programs offered to Africa students that I was not aware of, the visit to the research lab and how the projects add value to the community of Rwanda.”

The second course of the week was Digital Trade: International Trade Rules, led by Dr. Alexandre Mateus, Head of the Digital Trade sector in the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission and alumni of CMU's EPP program, working with Brian Daigle, Senior Advisor for Data Policy and Data Governance for the U.S. State Department. Participants learned practical implications of developing international trade rules covering different areas of digital policy, and how ongoing international negotiations can impact policymaking at national level. 

CEE-TP has now offered more than 30 classes resulting in more than 450 alumni. If you would like to learn more about our program, upcoming classes or how to get involved with our alumni network, get in touch at epp-exec-ed@andrew.cmu.edu.